mafias
Organized criminal networks
Mafias is the plural of mafia—organized crime syndicates, especially those with Italian or Sicilian origins.
The word extends to any tightly knit group that operates through intimidation or controls access to something: the Hollywood mafia, the literary mafia.
Several mafias competed for control of the drug trade.
Male baptismal guardian
- bossWorkplace superior
- underbossCriminal organization's deputy
- consigliereMafia boss's trusted counselor
- capoString-shortening clamp device
soldier · associate · made man · wiseguy · enforcer · hitman · button man · lieutenant
Criminal vow of silence
- loyaltyFaithful commitment to another
- honorHigh regard, moral dignity
- respectRegard with honor
- vendettaProlonged retaliatory conflict
blood oath · initiation · code · secrecy · silence · tradition · ritual · tribute
Conducting illegal business schemes
- traffickingIllegal transport for profit
- smugglingIllegal covert transport
- launderingCleaning fabric items
- extortionObtaining through threats
bribery · corruption · bootlegging · narcotics · prostitution · gambling · robbery · kidnapping
Combined group pursuing shared interest
- cartelPrice-fixing coalition
- clanRelated group sharing ancestry
- familyRelated people together
- outfitSet of clothes worn together
ring · network · faction · cell · crew · chapter · branch · territory
Power to affect others
- controlAuthority to direct
- dominanceSuperior influence over others
- intimidationDeliberate fear-inducing pressure
- coercionPressured compliance through threats
corruption · grip · territory · monopoly · stronghold · infiltration · bribery · leverage
godfather
Male baptismal guardian
- bossWorkplace superior
- underbossCriminal organization's deputy
- consigliereMafia boss's trusted counselor
capo · soldier · associate · made man · wiseguy · enforcer · hitman · button man · lieutenant · don
omertà
Criminal vow of silence
vendetta · blood oath · initiation · code · secrecy · silence · tradition · ritual · tribute · allegiance
racketeering
Conducting illegal business schemes
- traffickingIllegal transport for profit
- smugglingIllegal covert transport
- launderingCleaning fabric items
extortion · bribery · corruption · bootlegging · narcotics · prostitution · gambling · robbery · kidnapping · fraud
syndicate
Combined group pursuing shared interest
outfit · ring · network · faction · cell · crew · chapter · branch · territory · turf
influence
Power to affect others
- controlAuthority to direct
- dominanceSuperior influence over others
- intimidationDeliberate fear-inducing pressure
coercion · corruption · grip · territory · monopoly · stronghold · infiltration · bribery · leverage · protection
Sicilian
From Italy's largest island
- ColombianFrom the Andes nation
- MexicanOf or from Tenochtitlan's successor
- RussianEastern Slavic language
Irish · Albanian · Nigerian · Chechen · American · Corsican · Jewish · Turkish
- groupsteam, teams, group, club, clubs
- insurgentsinsurgent, guerrillas, guerrilla, rebel, resistance fighters
mafiaslaw enforcement agencies
Bodies that uphold statutes
police forces · governments · government agencies · regulatory bodies · courts
mafiascharities
Groups aiding the needy
humanitarian organizations · nonprofits · NGOs · aid organizations · volunteer organizations
- Russian mafiaSlavic organized crime syndicate
- mafia donCriminal organization leader
- American MafiaItalian-American crime syndicate
- mafia trialsCourt cases against organized criminals
- Sicilian MafiaSicilian organized crime syndicate
- mafia stateState captured by criminals